2nd Annual Mutz Fest finds continued success

Vito’s Deli takes Critic’s Choice for mozzarella

Local eateries gathered at Elk’s Lodge on 10th Street and Washington St. this past Sunday afternoon and competed to see who makes the best mozzarella cheese in the 2nd Annual Mutzfest.
Over 800 people from around the area attended this event, hosted by Hoboken Family Alliance and Elk’s Club. This year, six contestants entered the competition, including Littletown, NJ, Vito’s Deli, Gigi’s Rosticeria, Fran’s Deli, Losurdo Bros. Deli, and the returning champion, M&P Biancamano.
Event attendees were given an opportunity to go around and taste the mozzarella from all six stations, and then cast their votes on their favorite cheese maker of this year.
Despite having to pay for this incredible cheese-sampling opportunity, many Stevens students and alumni were found among the attendees.
Stevens’ chapter of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity provided a number of volunteers that assisted setup, check-in, operations of various deli stations, and other vital tasks.
It was “an event that brought the Hoboken community together with great food, plenty of laughs, and opportunities to further strength the bonds we share with one another through mutual love of mutz”, said Jaime Villavicencio, APO’s Philanthropy Chair and one of the volunteers that day.
“Mutzfest is one of my favorite Hoboken event this semester”, said another volunteer, “besides of course getting crazy over all of the delicious food, I felt truly connected to the local Hoboken community as a Stevens student, and that I can do something to help out.”
Besides mozzarella, this year Mutzfest also included a sandwich competition, where delicious mozzarella sandwiches were served to determine who has the best sandwich.
In addition, many deli stations brought their own specialties to appeal to the cheese enthusiasts, and overwhelmingly long line did not stop anyone from picking up another entrée or taking more pieces of mozzarella cheese.
Also notably attractive were Vito’s Deli’s chocolate fountain and Biancamano’s map of Italy made from mozzarella cheese.
After four hours of exhilarating food fest, Vito’s deli claimed the Critic’s choice award in mozzarella, while Biancamano won the Critic’s choice award in sandwiches and the People’s choice award.
A ticket this year was for $20.00, and all of the proceeds went to support Hoboken Family Alliance, a Hoboken not-for-profit organization that will use this money to support philanthropic efforts around the area.
Mutzfest is an annual event around late-January, you can find out more information and eventually purchase tickets for next year’s festival at www.mutzfest.com.